Oregon in the mix for multiple blue-chip prospects after latest visits

Oregon is on pace to finish with another top-10 recruiting class in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The Ducks currently own the No. 7 class in the nation and are eyeing a handful of elite prospects to add to the fold in Eugene.

With spring visit season underway, many of those top targets are making their way out west to visit with Dan Lanning and the Oregon staff. Returns are looking positive as the Ducks continue to charge for blue-chippers around the nation.

On the latest edition of The Inside Scoop, Oregon recruiting insider Justin Hopkins joined On3’s Josh Newberg to dish on who the Ducks are after and where the Big Ten program stands in their respective recruitments after visits this past weekend.

4-star LB Noah Mikhail

School: La Verne (Calif.) Bonita
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 61

Hopkins’ Take: “I was able to speak with Mikhail and this is the second visit he’s taken in the calendar year. Clearly there’s a lot of interest. As we know, Dan Lanning has done a tremendous job cleaning up on the defensive talent out west, basically since his arrival. This is another big important class for them to sign guys that are elite and ready to contribute (at linebacker). I know Mikhail’s at the top of the list. He told me that the visit was great, he continues to build that relationship with Lanning.”

4-star OT Ziyare Addison

School: Tampa Sumner
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 195

Hopkins’ Take: “This was a foundation-laying visit. Get him on campus, let him see what you’re about. Make sure that you remain a school that he’s interest in. He used ‘eye-opening’ and all the adjectives you would expect from an Oregon visit, but he said his chance to connect with the staff and see how they plan to develop him, how well their offensive line performed last year … those were all some of the things he mentioned. As far as Addison’s concerned and Oregon, this is that first visit. He’s already talking about his official visit in June is lined up … he told me ‘they’re definitely not outside my top three right now.'”

4-star CB Dorian Brew

School: Conroe (Texas)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 24

Hopkins’ Take: “I think I would still lean Ohio State’s direction. The key to this recruitment is will he make a commitment sooner than later? The second part of that equation is if he does make a commitment, as we’ve started to see a new trend, will he keep taking more visits? … I think for Oregon, you really just wanted tog et your foot in the door, if you will, and stay on his mind. I think Oregon did a great job. Sources at Oregon say it went well, he was very receptive and they feel like they’re in the game. But of course, we’ll have to see how this recruitment will play out over the next month or so.”

4-star SAF Kainoa Winston

School: Montgomery Village (Md.) Gonzaga
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 95

Hopkins’ Take: “He just recently dropped a group of top schools and Oregon was among it, right with this visit. After he got home he announced an official visit with Oregon in June, so certainly looks like they’ll be in line for an OV. I did get a chance to talk to Winston … really receptive to Coach Hampton and how they use their DBs — and not to mention that there is a need for safety in this cycle. I think all those things line up well for Oregon. I wouldn’t dare say that they lead or anything like this after the first visit, but getting him back on campus and continuing to build that relationship, Duck fans need to watch this one for sure.”